Employees say restaurant manager made threats with an ax

A West End restaurant manager is in trouble after employees say he terrified the staff when he came out with an ax!

It's the last thing you expect to see when you go out to dinner, but employees say that's exactly what happened at Skillagalee Seafood Restaurant on Glenside Drive.

Edward Freeman Jr., the manager, was arrested in the middle of dinner. He is now out of jail, released on his own recognizance. But he is charged with assault because he's accused of attacking an employee.

NBC12 was able to talk to the restaurant owners, who are also Freeman's parents.

Police tell NBC12 they were called to the seafood restaurant right in the middle of dinner around 6:45 p.m. on Thursday because employees told them the manager had lost control.

Employees tell NBC12 Freeman started threatening people and swearing, then thing got really scary. They were too afraid to go on camera, but say during Freeman's outburst he grabbed an ax and started banging it against a wall! Then they say he threatened one of the women working there. Police tell us he grabbed her arm.

Officers were called and the restaurant was forced to close for the night.

When a news crew went to the restaurant, a man identifying himself as the head chef answered the door. He said he had not heard of any other incidents involving Freeman.

A short time later, the owners arrived. They said they're Freeman's parents and his stepfather has owned Skillagalee for more than 40 years.

His family tells NBC12 Freeman has diabetes and sometimes suffers from low blood sugar. They say that could explain his scary outburst.

The assault charge is a misdemeanor. Freeman's next court date is in March.

An employee at Skillagalee Seafood Restaurant said Freeman was not working Friday night.